Glass enclosure article with color and pattern decoration, and process preparing thereof

ABSTRACT

A glass enclosure article is provided that includes color and patterned decoration and a process of making thereof. The glass enclosure article has a desired color and appearance and also a durable impact resistance. The glass enclosure article includes a glass enclosure having an inner surface, an outer surface and a rim and a coating. The coating is made of colored thermoplastic elastic material that covers a whole or a part of the inner surface of the glass enclosure.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of ChinesePatent Application No. 201310027942.4, filed Jan. 24, 2013, the entirecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to a structure of an enclosure of aportable electronic device, especially a structure of a glass enclosureof a portable electronic device having desired color and patterndecoration as well as durable impact resistance, and a process ofpreparing the structure of an enclosure.

2. Description of Related Art

Personal portable electronic devices such as mobile-phone, smart phone,tablet-PC, note book-PC, e-book reader had been commonly used now adays. As the market became mature and comparative, design of such deviceappearance has been diversified and demands to apply various materialssuch as plastic, metal, wood and glass became overt. Among suchmaterials, there is a demand for glass especially for high grade modelsbecause of the superior aesthetic.

Colored glass can be made by adding additives to a glass composition,and it is also possible to make the glass opaque by crystallization ofglass by adding proper chemical substances. However it is difficult tomake variation of colors with economical ways.

Another issue was durability, especially the application to portabledevices, which requires the strength against impact (such as fallingdown to floor). Chemically toughened glass is usually used for this typeof applications. However, compositions of the chemically toughened glassare limited, giving difficulty for obtaining a glass composition thatmeets other requirement such as appearance.

The present invention gives a glass enclosure article with color andpattern decoration, which has the desired color or texture appearanceand also a durable impact resistance. The present invention alsoprovides a process for the preparation of the glass enclosure articlewith a simple and economical way.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment, the glass enclosure article of the presentinvention comprises a glass enclosure having an inner surface, an outersurface and a rim and a coating, wherein the coating is made of athermoplastic elastic material, the thermoplastic elastic material beingpreferably colored thermoplastic elastic material, and wherein thecoating covers a whole or a part of the inner surface of the glassenclosure.

In another embodiment, the coating covers a whole or a part of the edgeof rim, ensuring mechanical insulation between the glass enclosure andother flaming structure.

In another embodiment, a notch formed along the rim of the glassenclosure, and the coating extends to and fills the notch.

In another embodiment, the glass used in the glass enclosure ischemically or thermally toughened.

In another embodiment, the process of preparing the glass enclosurearticle of the present invention comprises the following steps: placinga glass enclosure having an inner surface shaped in concave onto a firstmold which has surface suitable for covering the convex outer surface ofthe glass enclosure; placing a second mold at a position over the glassenclosure which makes a space between the second mold and the glassenclosure; and injecting the colored thermoplastic elastic material intothe space between the second mold and the glass enclosure.

In another embodiment, the process of preparing the glass enclosurearticle of the present invention comprises the following steps: printingsolid color or texture or pattern on a film; placing a glass enclosurehaving an inner surface shaped in concave onto a first mold which hassurface suitable for covering the convex outer surface of the glassenclosure; placing the printed film onto the glass enclosure, wherein anunprinted side of the film is brought into contact with the glassenclosure; placing a second mold at a position over the printed filmwhich makes a space between the second mold and the film; injecting thethermoplastic elastic material into the space between the second moldand the film; detaching the film from shaped thermoplastic elasticmaterial; placing the shaped thermoplastic elastic material in adirection corresponding to the glass enclosure, and in contacting withthe, printed texture; pressing the thermoplastic elastic material withthe second mold; and heating the glass enclosure and the thermoplasticelastic material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a glass enclosure article according to oneembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a glass enclosure article according toanother embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a glass enclosure article according toanother embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a glass enclosure article according toanother embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 shows a method used to prepare an exemplary embodiment of a glassenclosure article according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a glass enclosure article according toanother embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 shows another method used to prepare an exemplary embodiment of aglass enclosure article according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows the glass enclosure article of one embodiment illustratedaccording to the present invention, wherein 10 represents the glassenclosure, and 20 represents the coating formed from the coloredthermoplastic elastic material.

FIG. 2 shows the glass enclosure article of one embodiment illustratedaccording to the present invention, wherein 10 represents the glassenclosure, and 20 represents the coating formed from the coloredthermoplastic elastic material.

FIG. 3 shows the glass enclosure article of one embodiment illustratedaccording to the present invention, wherein 10 represents the glassenclosure, 20 represents the coating formed from the coloredthermoplastic elastic material, and 15 represents notch formed along therim of the glass enclosure.

FIG. 4 shows the glass enclosure article of one embodiment illustratedaccording to the present invention, wherein 10 represents the glassenclosure, 20 represents the coating formed from the coloredthermoplastic elastic material, and 30 and 31 represent other members tobe installed.

FIG. 5 shows the method used to prepare the glass enclosure article ofone embodiment illustrated according to the present invention, wherein11 represents the glass enclosure, 41 represents the first mold, 42represents the second mold, 51 represents the space formed between theglass enclosure 11 and the second mold 42, and 61 represents a injectionchannel through the second mold 42.

FIG. 6 shows the glass enclosure article of one embodiment illustratedaccording to the present invention, wherein 10 represents the glassenclosure, 20 represents the coating formed from the thermoplasticelastic material, and 80 represent decoration layer on thermoplasticelastic material and in contact to the glass enclosure.

FIG. 7 shows the method used to prepare the glass enclosure article ofone embodiment illustrated according to the present invention, wherein12 represents the glass enclosure, 43 represents the first mold, 44represents the second mold, 62 represents the injection channel throughthe second mold 42, 71 represents the film, and 81 represents theprinted pigment layer on film 71.

Additional features and advantages of the embodiments described hereinwill be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in partwill be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from thatdescription or recognized by practicing the embodiments describedherein.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description describe various embodiments and areintended to provide an overview or framework for understanding thenature and character of the claimed subject matter. The accompanyingdrawings are included to provide a further understanding of the presentinvention, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of thisspecification. The drawings illustrate the various embodiments describedherein, and together with the Description serve to explain theprinciples and operations of the claimed subject matter.

In the present description, the term “glass” represents glass, toughenedglass.

In the present description, the term “colored thermoplastic elasticmaterial” represents a thermoplastic elastic material having the desiredcolor through selected or colored thermoplastic elastic material.

In the present description, the term “article” represents an articlehaving a colored thermoplastic elastic material on the inner surface ofthe glass enclosure. With reference to the inner surface of the glassenclosure covered by a colored thermoplastic elastic material, the term“a whole” indicates that all the inner surfaces (faces and edges) of theglass enclosure are covered by the colored thermoplastic elasticmaterial. The term “a part” indicates that a part of the selected region(faces and edges) of the inner surface of the glass enclosure is coveredby the colored thermoplastic elastic material.

Referring now to FIG. 1, it schematically depicts a glass enclosurearticle according to one embodiment of the present invention. The glassenclosure article comprises a glass enclosure 10 and a coating 20 formedfrom a colored thermoplastic elastic material. The glass enclosure 10has an inner surface shaped in concave, an outer surface shaped inconvex and a rim. The inner surface shaped in concave of the glassenclosure 10 is covered completely by the coating 20 formed from thecolored thermoplastic elastic material, that is to say that the coating20 covers the whole inner surfaces of the glass enclosure 10 (includingfaces and edges).

Referring now to FIG. 2, it schematically depicts a glass enclosurearticle according to one embodiment of the present invention. The glassenclosure article comprises a glass enclosure 10 and a coating 20 formedfrom a colored thermoplastic elastic material. The glass enclosure 10has an inner surface shaped in concave, an outer surface shaped inconvex and a rim. The inner surface shaped in concave of the glassenclosure 10 is covered by the coating 20 formed from the coloredthermoplastic elastic material in a selected region. In anotherembodiment, the rim region of the inner surface shaped in concave of theglass enclosure 10 is covered by the coating 20 formed from the coloredthermoplastic elastic material, whereas in other embodiments (not shownin the Figs.), the central region of the inner surface shaped in concaveof the glass enclosure 10 is covered by the coating 20 formed from thecolored thermoplastic elastic material.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it schematically depicts a glass enclosurearticle according to one embodiment of the present invention. The glassenclosure article comprises a glass enclosure 10 and a coating 20 formedfrom a colored thermoplastic elastic material. The glass enclosure 10has an inner surface shaped in concave, an outer surface shaped inconvex and a rim. The inner surface shaped in concave of the glassenclosure 10 is covered completely by the coating 20 formed from thecolored thermoplastic elastic material. A notch 15 formed along the rimof the glass enclosure, and the coating 20 extends to and fills thenotch 15.

Referring now to FIG. 4, which schematically depicts a glass enclosurearticle according to one embodiment of the present invention. The glassenclosure article comprises a glass enclosure 10 and a coating 20 formedfrom a colored thermoplastic elastic material. The glass enclosure 10has an inner surface shaped in concave, an outer surface shaped inconvex and a rim. The inner surface shaped in concave of the glassenclosure 10 is covered completely by the coating 20 formed from thecolored thermoplastic elastic material. 30 and 31 represent othermembers to be installed.

While FIGS. 1 to 4 depict a rectangular glass enclosure 10, it should beunderstood that the glass enclosure may be formed in other shapes. Forexample, and without limitation, the glass enclosure may be circular,square or any other regular or irregular shape. Further, while FIGS. 1to 4 depict the rectangular glass enclosure 10 as being planar, itshould be understood that the rectangular glass enclosure may be curved,such as the glass enclosure has a curved cross-sectional profile in atleast one dimension.

In the embodiments of the glass enclosure article described in thepresent invention, the glass enclosure 10 may have a thickness of 0.2 mmto 5.0 mm, preferably 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm.

In the embodiments of the glass enclosure article described in thepresent invention, the glass enclosure 10 is preferably colorless andtransparent or translucent. All the standard soda-lime glass,aluminosilicate glass, borosilicate glass or other glasses industriallyavailable can be used, and toughened glass can also be used.

In one embodiment, the glass enclosure is formed from glass purchasedfrom markets, for example SCHOTT LAS80.

That the inner surface of the glass enclosure article of the presentinvention is covered by a coating formed from a colored thermoplasticelastic material renders the article of the present invention thedesired color appearance and also a durable impact resistance.

It can be selected the color of the thermoplastic elastic material ofthe present invention according to requirements, or the thermoplasticelastic material is colored to obtain a desired color. The desired colorcan be available by mixing pigments or colored pigments onto thethermoplastic elastic material.

In one specific embodiment, the colored thermoplastic elastic materialof the present invention may be black by adding black carbon particlesto acrylic resin.

The thermoplastic elastic material used in the glass enclosure articleof the present invention is commercially available. Specifically, thethermoplastic elastic material can be selected from acrylic polymer,polyethylene, polystyrene, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, polyvinylchloride, polyurethane, polyolefin and combination thereof, whereas thepresent invention is not limited within the above listed materials.

Referring to FIG. 5, it schematically depicts a process of preparing theglass enclosure article of the present invention. Specifically, a glassenclosure 11 having an inner surface shaped in concave is placed on afirst mold 41, and the first mold 41 has a surface corresponding to theouter shape shaped in convex of the glass enclosure. The glass enclosure11 is immobilized onto the mold 41 mechanically or by vacuum. The secondmold 42 is immobilized onto the upper of the glass enclosure 11 at aposition to make a space 51 between the second mold 42 and the glassenclosure 11. The distance between the glass enclosure 11 and the secondmold 42 is 0.02 mm-1.0 mm, preferably 0.2 mm-0.4 mm to allowconductivity of injected thermoplastic elastic material and to minimizeweight and thickness. Heating the thermoplastic elastic material forhaving plasticizing and fluidness, and the thermoplastic elasticmaterial is injected into a space 51 via channel 61. The shape of thethermoplastic elastic material is stabilized by controlling thetemperature higher enough than crystallization point of the selectedthermoplastic elastic material and pressure appropriately. Thethermoplastic elastic material is adhered to glass enclosure 11 andstabilized by cooling down temperature lower than crystallization pointof the selected thermoplastic elastic material to form a glass enclosurearticle.

After cooling, the glass enclosure article made by the above device hasthe desired color appearance and luster, hardness, and smoothness sincethe glass enclosure is transparent and the colored thermoplastic elasticmaterial has the desired color. When the glass enclosure article isimmobilized into the structure of an electronic device, the glassenclosure is insulated from other members due to the thermoplasticelastic material between the glass enclosure and other members to beinstalled, and thus the impact applied to the glass enclosure can beabsorbed.

Herein the mold can be made of one from metals such as stainless steel,Titanium or ceramics like aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide,silicon-carbide or silicon-nitride.

The thermoplastic elastic material is selected from acrylic polymer,polyethylene, polystyrene, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, polyvinylchloride, polyurethane, polyolefin and combination thereof.

Further, in order to obtain not only a solid color appearance of thethermoplastic elastic material but also diversified color and texture orpattern such as geometric feature, geometric leather or geometricpattern, the following treatment is introduced.

Referring now to FIG. 6, it schematically depicts a glass enclosurearticle according to one embodiment of the present invention. The glassenclosure article comprises a glass enclosure 10, a texture layer 80 anda coating 20 formed from a thermoplastic elastic material. The glassenclosure 10 has an inner surface shaped in concave, an outer surfaceshaped in convex and a rim. The inner surface shaped in concave of theglass enclosure 10 is covered completely by the texture layer 80 and thecoating 20 formed from the thermoplastic elastic material.

Referring now to FIG. 7, it schematically depicts a process of preparingthe glass enclosure article of the present invention, wherein atransparent glass enclosure 12 having an inner surface shaped in concaveis used. The glass enclosure 12 is placed onto the first mold 43, whichhas a surface corresponding to the outer shape shaped in convex of theglass enclosure. The glass enclosure 12 is immobilized to the first mold43 mechanically or by vacuum. A film 71 having ductility is selected asa substrate on which colors or patterns to be decollated on enclosureare to be printed. The printing material and the film 71 are selected tohave a weak bonding force between the printing material and the film 71,or the film 71 is applied with a release layer prior to be printed toensure that the substrate film 71 is separated from the printing layerafter the thermoplastic elastic material is shaped. The film 71 isprinted with the desired color and pattern, and the printed film 71 isplaced on the glass enclosure wherein the unprinted side contacts theglass enclosure 12. The second mold 44 is immobilized over the film 71at a position to make a space between the second mold 44 and the glassenclosure 12 bigger than film thickness.

The distance between the glass enclosure 12 and the second mold 44 notincluding the printed film thickness is 0.02 mm-1.0 mm, preferably 0.2mm-0.4 mm.

The thermoplastic elastic material is heated to the temperature whichthe material to have plasticity and fluidness, and the thermoplasticelastic material is injected into the space via a channel 62. Whole moldand article are cooled down the temperature the thermoplastic elasticmaterial loose fluidness and the article is separated from mold. Thefilm 71 is detached by peeling off from shaped thermoplastic elasticmaterial. The shaped thermoplastic elastic material with print materialon surface is placed in a direction corresponding to the glass enclosureand the glass enclosure contacts with the printed texture. The secondmold 44 is immobilized in contact to the shaped thermoplastic elasticmaterial at the position no gap is made between the second mold and theglass enclosure. Molds and the glass enclosure article are heated to thetemperature which the thermoplastic elastic material has plasticity andfluidness and thermoplastic elastic material is pressed with the secondmold and adhere to glass enclosure article. The shape of thethermoplastic elastic material is stabilized by cooling mold andarticle.

Herein the mold can be made of one from metals such as stainless steel,Titanium or ceramics like aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide,silicon-carbide or silicon-nitride.

The film can be made of one from polypropylene, polyethylene,polycarbonate, polyamide, polyester, acrylic resin, polyvinyl chlorideor metal foil such as aluminum foil, copper foil, or complexes of eachof the above materials and the release layer can be coated on thesurface of above film to improve separation of the sheet from glassenclosure.

The thermoplastic elastic material is selected from acrylic polymer,polyethylene, polystyrene, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, polyvinylchloride, polyurethane, polyolefin and combination thereof.

The glass enclosure article made by the process shown in FIG. 7, sincethe glass enclosure is transparent, and the desired color and patternare printed on the film, the obtained glass enclosure article has thedesired color and pattern appearance, and the luster, hardness, andsmoothness. When the glass enclosure article is immobilized into thestructure of an electronic device, the glass enclosure is insulated fromother members due to the thermoplastic elastic material between theglass enclosure and other members to be installed, and thus the impactapplied to the glass enclosure can be absorbed.

As unlimited examples, the glass enclosure article of the presentinvention can be used as an enclosure of an electronic device, such asmobile phones, tablet computers, notebook computers, personal musicplayers, electronic book readers, handheld calculators, computer mousetop covers, and the like.

The glass enclosure article of the present invention may have thedesired color and pattern appearance by covering the whole or a part ofthe inner surface of the glass enclosure with a colored thermoplasticelastic material, and the glass enclosure is insulated from othermembers by having a thermoplastic elastic material between the glassenclosure and the members to be installed, and thus the impact appliedto the glass enclosure can be absorbed.

The glass enclosure article of the present invention combines thebeneficial properties of glass and thermoplastic elastic material in thesame article. Specifically, glass has beautiful appearance and smoothfeeling but various colors and/or patterns cannot be obtained easilythrough economical ways; whereas a thermoplastic elastic material canhave the desired color readily by selecting appropriate components. Tohave a thermoplastic elastic material on the inner surface of the glassenclosure renders the obtained glass enclosure article the desired colorand/or pattern, and also the beautiful appearance and smooth feeling ofthe glass. Further, the glass enclosure is insulated from other membersby having a thermoplastic elastic material between the glass enclosureand the members to be installed, and thus the impact applied to theglass enclosure can be absorbed, and the glass enclosure article has adurable impact resistance.

It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made to the embodiments describedherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimedsubject matter. Thus it is intended that the modifications andvariations of the various embodiments described herein are within thescope of protection of the present invention provided such modificationand variations come within the scope of the appended claims and theirequivalents.

Example 1

Glass enclosure was shaped by casting melted Schott LAS80 glass to havedimension of 100 mm×60 mm rectangle shape with curved corner of radius 5mm and 3 mm depth concave with uniform thickness of 1.0 mm.

One set of mold is made with stainless-steel SUS420 by Numerical Controlmachining. First mold has concave which corresponds to the outerdimension of above glass enclosure. Second mold has convex shape and itis made to give uniform distance of 1 mm from the inner surface of aboveglass enclosure when two mold and glass enclosure are combined.

Acrylic resin and black carbon powder was mixed with 99:1 ratio forblack colored thermoplastic elastic material by roll mill.

Glass enclosure was fixed in the concave on first mold by vacuum viahole through mold body. Then second mold was fixed on the first mold tomake space between second mold and glass enclosure. The molds and glassenclosure were heated up to 110 degree C. and the colored thermoplasticelastic material was heated up to 120 degree C. and injected into thespace between the second mold and the glass enclosure by pumping systemthrough the injection channel made through the second mold. The moldsand glass enclosure were cooled down to 70 degree C. and second mold wasremoved.

Example 2

The Glass enclosure prepared in Example is used. Colored layer printedfilm was prepared as following process. 100 um thick polyethyleneterephthalate film was used as a base film. Release layer was made bycoating silicone resin on the film surface. Ink made of acrylic resinand color dye was coated by offset printing on the film to make coloreddecoration pattern.

The glass enclosure was set on first mold and fixed with vacuum andabove printed film was positioned to cover the glass enclosure withdirection which the printed side opposite to glass enclosure and basefilm surface facing to glass enclosure. Second mold was set over theglass enclosure and printed film and the film was fixed with two moldsin the whole area out of glass mold. The molds and glass enclosure wereheated up to 110 degree C. and the thermoplastic elastic material washeated up to 120 degree C. and injected into the space between thesecond mold and the glass enclosures by pumping system through theinjection channel made through the second mold. The molds and glassenclosure were cooled down to 70 degree C. and second mold was removed.The thermoplastic elastic material has shape to correspond to the innersurface of glass enclosure and removed from glass enclosure by pullingup printed film. The base film of printed film was removed from thethermoplastic elastic material easily from release layer on it anddecoration texture remained on the surface of shaped elastic article.

The elastic material was placed on the glass enclosure on the firstmold, and the printed side of the elastic material is brought intocontact with the glass enclosure. The second mold was placed on theglass enclosure and the first mold. Molds, glass enclosure and elasticarticle were heated up to 120 degree Celsius and softened ink layerbecame adhesive to glass enclosure. Whole set was cooled down to ambienttemperature and the glass enclosure was separated by compressed airapplied through hole in first mold. The obtained glass enclosure haddesired color and texture when observed from outer side through glassand covered whole area and edge by thermoplastic elastic material.

What is claimed:
 1. A glass enclosure article, comprising: a glassenclosure having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a rim; and acoating made of a thermoplastic elastic material covering a whole or apart of the inner surface of the glass enclosure.
 2. The glass enclosurearticle according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic elastic materialis a colored thermoplastic elastic material.
 3. The glass enclosurearticle according to claim 1, wherein the coating covers a whole or apart of the rim.
 4. The glass enclosure article according to claim 1,further comprising a notch formed along the rim, wherein the coatingextends to and fills the notch.
 5. The glass enclosure article accordingto claim 1, wherein the glass enclosure is a chemically or thermallytoughened glass.
 6. The glass enclosure article according to claim 1,wherein the glass enclosure is colorless and transparent or translucent.7. The glass enclosure article according to claim 1, wherein the glassenclosure has a shape selected from the group consisting of a rectangle,a circle, a square, and an irregular shape.
 8. The glass enclosurearticle according to claim 1, wherein the glass enclosure is curved orplanar.
 9. The glass enclosure article according to claim 1, wherein theglass enclosure has a thickness of 0.2 mm to 5.0 mm.
 10. The glassenclosure article according to claim 1, wherein the glass enclosure hasa thickness of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm.
 11. The glass enclosure articleaccording to claim 1, wherein the glass enclosure comprises a glassselected from the group consisting of soda-lime glass, aluminosilicateglass, and borosilicate glass.
 12. The glass enclosure article accordingto claim 2, wherein the colored thermoplastic elastic material is madeof the mixture of pigment and polymer.
 13. The glass enclosure articleaccording to claim 2, wherein the colored thermoplastic elastic materialis colored with pigment on a boundary surface in contact with the glassenclosure.
 14. The glass enclosure article according to claim 1, whereinthe thermoplastic elastic material is selected from the group consistingof acrylic polymer, polyethylene, polystyrene, styrene-acrylonitrilecopolymer, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, polyolefin, andcombinations thereof.
 15. The glass enclosure article according to claim1, wherein the thermoplastic elastic material has a thickness of 0.02mm-1.0 mm.
 16. The glass enclosure article according to claim 1, whereinthe thermoplastic elastic material has a thickness of 0.1 mm-0.4 mm. 17.A process of preparing a glass enclosure article, comprising: placing aglass enclosure having a concave inner surface onto a first mold whichhas surface suitable for covering a convex outer surface of the glassenclosure; placing a second mold at a position over the glass enclosurewhich makes a space between the second mold and the glass enclosure; andinjecting a thermoplastic elastic material into the space between thesecond mold and the glass enclosure.
 18. The process according to claim17, wherein the second mold is positioned over the glass enclosure sothat the space is 0.02 mm-1.0 mm.
 19. The process according to claim 17,wherein the second mold is positioned over the glass enclosure so thatthe space is 0.2 mm-0.4 mm.
 20. The process according to claim 17,wherein the first and second molds are made of a material selected fromthe group consisting of steel, steel alloy, titanium, silicon carbide,silicon nitride, aluminum oxide, and zirconium oxide.
 21. The processaccording to claim 17, wherein the thermoplastic elastic material isselected from the group consisting of acrylic polymer, polyethylene,polystyrene, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, polyvinyl chloride,polyurethane, polyolefin, and combinations thereof.
 22. A process ofpreparing a glass enclosure article, comprising: printing a solid coloror texture or pattern on a film; placing a glass enclosure having aconcave inner surface onto a first mold which has surface suitable forcovering a convex outer surface of the glass enclosure; placing the filmonto the glass enclosure so that an unprinted side of the film isbrought into contact with the glass enclosure; placing a second mold ata position over the film to make a space between the second mold and thefilm; injecting a thermoplastic elastic material into the space betweenthe second mold and the film to form a shaped thermoplastic elasticmaterial with a printed texture; detaching the film from the shapedthermoplastic elastic material; placing the shaped thermoplastic elasticmaterial in the glass enclosure so that the glass enclosure iscontacting the printed texture; pressing the shaped thermoplasticelastic material with the second mold; and heating the glass enclosureand the shaped thermoplastic elastic material.
 23. The process accordingto claim 22, wherein the thermoplastic elastic material is selected fromthe group consisting of acrylic polymer, polyethylene, polystyrene,styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane,polyolefin, and combinations thereof.
 24. The process according to claim22, wherein the film is made of a material selected from the groupconsisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate,polycarbonate, polyamide, polyester, acrylic resin, polyvinyl chloride,metal foil, aluminum foil, copper foil, and complexes thereof.
 25. Theprocess according to claim 22, wherein the film comprises a base filmand a release layer coated on a surface of the base film.